The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-03-12
HONEST PATRIOTISM.


about the coast delenSeS. Inc ldea mas
got abroad that our coasts
ought to be lined with forts and guns
as a warning to Europe against declar-
ing war against us some morning before
breakfast. Engineers have surveyed
and reported, and Congressional COM
mittees have sat and reported, and for
about $50, 0O0. 900 we can get things in
such shape that when the enemy's first
iron-clad heaves in sight she can be
saluted in proper style.
A lot of us were sitting IN the depot
waiting-room at Trenton, and the only
man who had newspaper was reading
away for dear life, when a stranger
entered with two sachels and tall
girl, chugged the baggage under seat,
waved the girl to another, and walked
up to the man with the newspaper and
asked:
s.Mister, is there any thing in the
paper about our coast defensesP"
mo, sir!' was the gruff reply.
THAT'S singular. Have they given
up the idea, do you think?'
II don't know what you mean, sill"
"You don't? Why, they've been talk
ing for the last year about building forts
to protect our coasts. live down near
the mouth of Toms river, and rather
expect they'll build a big fort there.
The way things are now England.
France or Germany could declare war
against us and land force at Toms
river before we had our eyes open.
They'd land right on my farm, and no
body knows the damage they'd do.
Don't see any thing about fort at
Toms river, eh?'
mo, SIR"
"Well. that's singular. If this gov
eminent expects me to get down behind
a rock with my old shotgun and keep
Europe from landing at that point it's
expecting leetle too much of one man.
I'd fight to the death, of course. but the
chances are that hull navy could lick
one nigh-sighted man. So the paper
don't say any thingP"
Didn't tell you no in the first
placer
Say! mebbe you don't keer copper
about coast defensesr' exclaimed the
two-sachel man as red spot appeared
on either cheek.
mot a copper, sir"
II thought SO from the start! You
live out in Michigan or Indiana or Hi
nois, and are tucked away in some holler
where the sheriff can't find we. let alone
an invader of our sacred sile! o. no,
you don't keer!''
"Father!'' chided the tall girl, as she
half rose; but he turned on her with:
s.Mary, you keep shet! I've allus
thought if Europe declared war agin us
we'd have plenty of enemies right at
home, and here's case to prove it!
Stranger, did you fit in the last warp"
s.None o. your business, sir!'
There's his open hand, gentlemen!''
said the two-sachel man, as he turned
to the crowd. when you find man
who don't keer how soon the bull
of Europe jumps on this country
you have found a man who'd dig
up the bones of Washington and sell
EN- to junk man for five dollars!'
The man with the newspaper laid il
down, got on his feet. and asked the
other if he would step outdoors min
ute.
mo, sir, I won't!'' was the promp'
reply. I'm the fust place, I've got
these two sachels to purtect; in the
second place, there's Mary; in the third
place, 1 don't fight with no man who
didn't fight in the last war. In the fust
place l asked We if there was any thing
| in the paper about our coast defenses- y
"And l said no, you idiot!''
"And you said you didn't keerr
Neither do IT,
There's his hand agin, gentlemen
While I'm lying behind rock at Toms
river, waiting to sell my life in defence
of my country, here's Teller from
Coon Holler, State of Indiana, who
don't keer cooper's copper how quicl
Europe kivers the site of New jersey
with the blood of our bravest menu
"Father!' chided Mary again.
"Lemme alone, Mary! You know al
about carpet rags and darning ant
homework, but you never heard thu
rumble of war. If Europe is going t.
Jump onto this country / want to know
who's going to shoot me in the back a
l face the enemy"
The man with the newspaper openet
It and sat down with dangerous gilt
ter in his eyes, and there was solemn
silence for few minutes. Then thu
Toms river man edged over to Mar.
and they slid out doors together. TheI
he beckoned through the open windov
to three or four of us, and as we wen
out he surrounded us and whispered:
Gentlemen, it's my solemn opinion
that that teller is a jannisary fron
Europe who has come over here to Goa